<p>I'm a junior in high school and want to schedule interviews at some of the colleges I'm interested in so they get to meet me and I can turn the campus and ask an admissions officer any questions. </p>
<p>Do I just call and say I want to schedule? I also want them to meet me and see my my personality, kind of like an interview.</p>
<p>I don't want to go to one of those big group sessions, I want a private one-on-one kind of thing.</p>
<p>How do I ask in a way that is not awkward? Can I just call and book it??</p>
<p>Some of the schools I'm interested in are Georgetown, John Hopkins, UPENN, Brown, Dartmouth...</p>
<p>Any and all input is appreciated. :)</p>
<p>Some of the top schools do not offer campus interviews, it would just be too crazy given how many students visit and want to interview. Some offer alumni interviews, although the impact they have on your admission chances are questionable (I am guessing you CAN blow it badly enough to hurt your admissions, but we also hear many tales from alumni interviewers out here who recommend students they interviewed that never get admitted). And some schools have on campus interviews, but they are done by students. Which can be informative. You have to look at the admissions website for each school and see what they say about interviews.</p>
<p>Some schools say they only offer interviews on campus to seniors. However, if you are traveling from far away to visit the school in spring or summer of junior year, you can ask if they will make an exception. But just know that if the interview is “evaluative” (they are evaluating you, not just “informative” for you to learn about the school), you are going to be interviewing against a bunch of seniors who possibly have more maturity and accomplishments than you have as a junior.</p>
<p>Other ways you can make connections:
- If the admissions rep comes to your high school, be sure to go to the session with them. Take a couple of good questions (not super obvious ones that you could really easily find on the website or in Fiske); the reps often take note of students who clearly researched the school and have good questions.
- Go to college fairs and introduce yourself to the rep if you get a chance to.
- if they have a session in your city, go to that and introduce yourself.
- If you have legitimate (again, not obvious) questions about the school, you could email your regional rep. I would say wait until admissions decisions go out this spring, though, they are WAY too busy right now and will be more likely to remember you if you want until later in the year to contact them.</p>
<p>You really have to take your cue from how the college wants to handle the process. You can’t bull your way into an admission counselor’s office for a one-on-one meeting if that is not how that college handles it.</p>
<p>Even if you don’t interview on campus, it is usually well worth visiting. You can find out how to sign up for a campus tour (pretty much always done by students through the admissions office), an information session (usually there is an admissions rep there, although they may not be the one from your region), and you can do stuff like attend a class or meet with a coach or eat in the cafeteria. The admissions office can help you arrange all of those things.</p>
<p>Where you can get interviews, start with a few of your less favorite schools; with some practice, you’ll be more relaxed after a few sessions.</p>
<p>fyi, Brown doesn’t offer on campus interviews or private one on ones. You can sign up for a tour, though. For Brown you will only be offered an interview after you submit your application and those interviews are done by alumni. You show your personality and interests in your application.</p>
<p>Most schools where D interviewed had a link to register for an interview on the same page where you sign up for a tour. It’s important to check each school web site because:</p>
<ul>
<li>Many highly selective schools do not interview at all. Many don’t even track level of interest and contacts with the school</li>
<li>Some very selective schools do alumni interviews. Usually they will contact you to set these up. Don’t call us, we’ll call you, and if they don’t have alumni in your area, or not enough, you may not get an interview. Calling doesn’t change that.</li>
<li>as said above, some won’t interview you until you are a rising senior, although if you’re traveling a great distance they MIGHT - that’s the only time I’d call and ask.</li>
</ul>
<p>The best thing to do is check each school’s web site. If you call and ask for an interview at a school that clearly states they don’t do them, or that they’ll contact you, then all you’ve done is show them you either can’t take the time to research of that you think the rules don’t apply to you. Everyone wants to interview at top schools.</p>